What a wild ride Monday Night Football was! The Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers combined for a whopping eight turnovers, making for a game that was as unpredictable as it was entertaining. The Eagles were the main culprits, with quarterback Jalen Hurts accounting for all five of their turnovers. Meanwhile, the Chargers lost two fumbles and had an interception thrown by Justin Herbert.
But one player who deserves some serious credit is Chargers fullback Scott Matlock. The former Boise State defensive lineman made a huge play in the third quarter, recovering a fumble that prevented the Eagles from getting an instant scoring opportunity. It was a heads-up play that could have easily swung the momentum of the game. And let’s not forget, Matlock has been a versatile player for the Chargers, playing offense, defense, and special teams during his time with the team.
In the end, it was a turnover that sealed the deal for the Chargers. Hurts threw an interception in the red zone in overtime, giving the Chargers a 22-19 victory. After the game, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was blunt about his team’s performance, saying “that one stinks.” Hurts was equally hard on himself, admitting that he “didn’t play well enough” and that the turnovers were a major issue.
It’s worth noting that Matlock has had a pretty interesting career path. A Boise native, he played for Homedale High School before joining the Broncos in 2018. He was a standout defensive lineman, earning all-Mountain West recognition in each of his final three seasons. The Chargers took notice and selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
As for other former Boise State players, here’s how they fared in Week 14: John Bates (Washington Commanders) didn’t record any stats in a 31-0 loss to the Vikings, while Ezra Cleveland (Jacksonville Jaguars) started at left guard in a 36-19 win over the Colts. Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders) had 10 carries for 30 yards and two receptions for eight yards in a 24-17 loss to the Broncos. DeMarcus Lawrence (Seattle Seahawks) recorded two total tackles in a 37-9 win over the Falcons. Jeremy McNichols (Washington Commanders) had one reception for two yards in the loss to the Vikings. Khalil Shakir (Buffalo Bills) had two receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown, as well as a punt return for nine yards, in a 39-34 win over the Bengals. And JL Skinner (Denver Broncos) recorded one total tackle in the win over the Raiders.
All in all, it was a wild and entertaining game, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the season has in store!
